INTERNATIONAL LIFE SAVING FEDERATION
Gemeenteplein 26 – 3010 Leuven – Belgium
Tel: (32.16) 35.35.00 – Fax: (32.16) 35.01.02
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ILS NEWS (2002/2)
Introduction
Rescue 2002 is right before the door and will see the ILS family gathering in Daytona Beach in May this year. We all hope that many countries will be present for the Lifesaving World Championships. ILS is planning Commission Meetings as well as a Board of Director’s Meeting where some relevant decisions will be taken to guide our world wide movement into the years to come.
This second newsletter contains some relevant news of the ILS activities.
World Congress on Drowning
From 26 until 28 June 2002 the first World Congress on Drowning will be held at the RAI international congress centre in Amsterdam in the Netherlands at the initiative of the ‘Dutch Society to Rescue People from Drowning’ (established in 1767).
The aim of the congress is to reduce the incidence of drowning throughout the world by bringing together all of the experts and practitioners in a congress through the establishment of a multidisciplinary network of all organisations and persons involved, the gathering of worldwide knowledge and experiences and the formulation of recommendations.
The three focal areas are: drowning prevention, rescue and treatment.
To generate more discussions, nine Task Forces have been established and they are working on the following issues:
epidemiology, prevention, rescue, resuscitation, hospital treatment, immersion hypothermia, brain resuscitation, diving and drowning and water related disasters. Papers of each task force are currently on-line at
Comments on these texts are appreciated and stimulated. During the congress the latest information of the Task Forces will be presented.
More than 110 hours of the congress will include presentations, discussions and courses. More than 2.000 experts and all important international organisations involved have been approached, such as ILS, WHO, Red Cross, IMO, ILF, DAN. More than 20 ILS leading personalities of all continents will give presentations or will be chairmen of sessions. The ILS logo is included in all printed material.
The 21 expert meetings are highly significant in this congress. Experts can register to actively exchange knowledge and experiences on the current state of affairs, contradictory opinions, future developments and recommendations. For ILS members the expert meetings will be very highly significant since many themes linked to rescuing will be addressed.
Practical courses on rescue and resuscitation techniques will be given by international experts before the congress. For on-site demonstration of rescue techniques, a pool will be constructed next to the congress centre.
For lifesavers this congress is a once in a life time opportunity to get acquainted with all aspects of their job in the widest international sense and to meet a variety of international experts from different backgrounds. Registration has already started. If you register before 1 March, you can register at a reduced rate of 450 EURO.
The congress programme and more detailed information and a registration form are available at: The congress secretariat (Ms. Inge Geerligs) can be contacted at .
Tel. +31 20 511 45 14 – fax + 31 20 669 28 31.
A handbook on drowning prevention will be issued after the conference.
Development Aid Project – Bolivia
A successful development aid project has been conducted by the Americas Region, in partnership with the American Red Cross (an Associate Member of ILS). Four volunteer Red Cross instructors provided lifesaving training to 33 volunteers in Tarija, Bolivia.
Early 2001, ILS received a request for aid from a Canadian citizen, Lisa Mitchell, who was working in Bolivia on behalf of the Sierra Club of British Columbia. She asked training for the volunteers with Salvataje y Rescate (SAR) and Grupo de Apoyo Civil a la Policia (GACIP), tasked with search, rescue, and recovery in local (inland) waters. Their swim training was very limited, as was their rescue training.
Of the 33 who took the course, 30 passed the lifeguard part and were given one-year certifications. All passed the CPR part and were given three-year certificates. In addition to standard lifeguard training, there were several additional positive outcomes. The students were taught about the power of moving water and self-rescue, which is particularly important in the rivers for which they have responsibility. The volunteers produced a list of practical interventions to prevent future drownings, including volunteer, on-site lifeguards during peak periods. They developed a safety plan for their pool and agreed upon an in-service training program to maintain skills. They videotaped the training to help train others. Since the training was concluded, the lifeguards have rescued four persons from drowning.
This project was a very successful endeavour, leveraging the skills and resources of several organisations. It demonstrates that valuable lifesaving development aid can be provided at a limited cost and produce excellent results.
ILS congratulates the America’s Region and the instructors for their dedication.
Spain
The ILSE Sport Commission officially congratulated the F.E.S.S. (Spanish Life Saving Federation) for hosting and organising the 10th European Championships 2001 in Mallorca.
The Spanish federation receives this honour because they financially supported some national federations which could not have participated without their financial assistance. Also, the ILSE College of Referees President was invited at their expense.
France
ILSE officially congratulated the F.F.S.S. (French Lifesaving Federation) for hosting the 2001 European Championships for Juniors in Valenciennes.
ILSE is very grateful that the F.F.S.S. organised these championships at such a short notice and with such effort.
Rescue 2002
The ILS has already received many official confirmations for participation in the Rescue 2002 competitions.
From a practical viewpoint, we would like to encourage all federations and clubs to register before 1 March so that no late entry fees will have to be paid.
For a variety of information including the Rescue 2002 Handbook, Rescue 2002 Competition Rules, volunteer information, registration forms, lodging information and much more, check
World Recordsin 2001
No less than 14 World records were broken last year. We give an overview of the athletes and their performances.
Women
- 100m combined rescue medley
Leigh Habler (AUS)1’18”74
Former record 1’20’’16
- 50 m saving a manikin
Leigh Habler (AUS) 38”88
Former record 39’’87
- 200 m super lifesaver
Aurélie Goffin (BEL) 2’35”02
Former record 2’38”47
- 100 m lifesaving by boat
Cornelia Carl (GER) 1’26”16
Former record 1’31”60
- 4x25m manikin relay
Italy 1’35”11
Former record 1’36”82
- 4x50m obstacle relay
Belgium 1’57”03
Former record 1’59”38
- 4x50m lifesaving relay
Italy 2’11”60
Former record 2’13”17
- 4x50m rescue tube relay
South-Africa 1’46”77
Former record 1’50”05
Men
- 100m combined rescue medley men
Lutz Heimann (GER) 1’06’’11
Former record 1’06’’91
- 50m saving a manikin
Jason O’Pray (AUS) 32”38
Former record 33”20
- 200m super lifesaver
Lutz Heimann (GER) 2’15”68
Former record 2’16”60
- 4 x 25m manikin relay
Australia 1’19”76
Former record1’20”97
- 4 x 50m obstacle relay
Belgium 1’42”42
Former record 1’43”95
- 4 x 50m lifesaving relay
Italy 1’51”27
Former record 1’54”31
Congratulations to all these athletes and their coaches.
Recognition procedure
We would like to remind all national federations that the application forms for new European and World records has to be forwarded to the ILS-ILSE secretariat respectively in order to approve the records.
Record application forms can be obtained at ILS HQ upon request.
The updated list of world records is given attached.
ILS Calendar 2002
The ILS calendar includes national and international events such as championships, meetings, courses, congresses and other events and is regularly sent to all ILS members.
To have your national or international events listed in the 2002 ILS calendar please send details (date, name and place of event)
The last updated calendar is given attached.
Newsletter compiled by
Dr. Harald Vervaecke - Secretary General
Sandra Harthoorn - Executive Assistant